sports • 02 March 2003

Sliema edge clear of Birkirkara

Sliema Wanderers 3

Hibernians 0

Sliema Wanderers confirmed their title ambitions when they beat reigning champions Hibernians 3-0, to go two points clear of Birkirkara, who in the first game played yesterday spurned the chance to maintain top spot with the Blues following a 0-0 draw with Pieta Hotspurs.

This was a vital win for Edward Aquilina’s men who broke the duck against Hibernians after having been defeated twice in the first phase.

After a goalless first-half, Sliema Wanderers broke the deadlock immediately after the break when on 48 minutes hot-shot Danilo Doncic shot past keeper Muscat from a Jeffrey Chetcuti cross.

In the 69 minute the Blues made it 2-0 when a Mario Muscat’s blunder permitted Nigerian Orosco Anonam to double the score, while on 80 minutes Sliema Wanderers sealed the issue and gathered maximum points when Kevin Sammut’s shot hit Cesar Paiber to finish in the back of the net.

Player of the match: Massimo Grima (Sliema Wanderers)

Referee: Charles AgiusBirkirkara 0

Pieta Hotspurs 0

In the first game Birkirkara spurned the chance to maintain top spot with Sliema Wanderers by sharing the points with Pieta Hotspurs.

The Stripes found it very difficult to break down the Hotspurs defensive wall well marshalled by international goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin who was in tremendous form and saved a penalty four minutes from time.

Stephen Azzopardi’s men had two great opportunities to break the deadlock, the first before the break when in the 15 minute top-scorer Michael Galea hit the crossbar from a Matthew Calascione pass.

The second arrived four minutes before full time when to the great astonishment of those present, Birkirkara were awarded a penalty following Luke Dimech’s fall in the penalty area. The referee whistled for a foul, when no Pieta’s player touched him.

Justice was done when Lucian Dronca saw keeper Saviour Darmanin save his shot. For the Romanian defender it was his first miss from the spot in 11 attempts this season in the premier league.

Ray ‘Zazu’ Farrugia’s men are making a habit of leaving their best turn-outs for the games against the big guns. Before drawing against the Stripes, Pieta also held Valletta and Sliema Wanderers to a draw in the previous two matches of the second phase.

Player of the match: Pierre Aquilina (Pieta Hotspurs)

Referee: Joe Attard

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